Who Were They?

Well, here it is. The last photo from the Liberty Bell Album. It began in mystery and has ended that way. Site reader John Roberts did find some information on our one name, Bertha Ham, which through my own disorganization I don’t have linked to the face of the photo. One day I will be able to unpack it and match the name to the face, but until then, we only know the following:

1900 Census, Bertha M Ham, single, age 25 (born Nov 1874), living with her mother, Mary J Ham, age 64 (b Oct 1835) at 36 South Street, Exeter, New Hampshire. Mary and her deceased husband both were born in New Hampshire (as well as Mary’s parents), and Bertha was born in Massachusetts. While her occupation isn’t listed on the census sheet, Bertha is listed as an ‘Operative’ in city directories produced around that time.

Using that information, I was able to find a family tree listing her family.

Joseph Ham (b 1835, d 1875) married Mary J Currier (1835-1914) Nov 25, 1858. They had four children:

Joseph (1860-????)
Mary E (1861-????)
Frederick S (1865-1914)
Flora Bertha (our subject from above)

Frederick and his mother both died in March of 1914 within 3 weeks of each other, but I wasn’t able to determine why.

And there you have it. Perhaps someone searching on Bertha, Frederick, Mary E or Joseph Ham will find this page and make the connection to their family tree!

This last photo was made by N. A. Nealey of Linden Street, Exeter, NH. We previously saw images made by Nealey, click here and here for the women. You will notice that this, the last photo in the album bears a remarkable resemblance to this, the subject of the first photo in the album! Is that a funny coincidence or ironic placement by the original owner? We shall never really know.

Coming up in a few days I have a real treasure to share with you…a gem album! I found it online and it has been a real delight to examine. We will learn a little bit about gems and a lot about the faces.